Microsoft to offer rival CDs

Microsoft is offering to include CD-ROMs of rival software in an effort to settle its competition case brought by the European Commission.

The EC believes Windows Media Player was unfairly bundled with the Windows operating system. It asked Microsoft to either remove the media player from machines or include rival programmes.

The Commission will rule in May, according to the Financial Times.

But offering rival media players on CD is unlikely to satisfy either the EC or Microsoft rivals. EC sources quoted by the paper suggest the Commission does not believe the CD solution is enough. Talks are continuing. ®